Modular building blocks with interfitting grooved surfaces

ABSTRACT

A set of building blocks including five basic inter-related elements including two cubical elements having longitudinal grooves along opposite sides of the cube, two semicubical elements one having a longitudinal groove along one side thereof and the other having two longitudinal grooves along one side thereof, and a fifth member comprising an equilateral prism having a base of the same size as one side of a cubical member.

United States Patent Michel [541 MODULAR BUILDING BLOCKS WITH INTERFITTING GROOVED SURFACES [72] inventor: Jorge Picazo Michel, Presa Valsequillo 17,

C01. lrrigacion 10, Mexico City, Mexico [22] Filed: Aug. 28, I970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,761

[52] US. Cl "46/25, 46/26 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 33/08 [58] Field of Searc ..46/25, 26, 28, l6, 17, 23,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,894,605 1/1933 Wright ..46/25 3,449,857 6/1969 De Christopher ..46/25 May 9,1972

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,004,941 12/ l 951 France ..46/ l 6 33,567 4/1949 Polandm, ..46/1 7 916,773 8/1946 France ..46/l6 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney-James E. Armstrong and Ronald S. Cornell [57] ABSTRACT A set of building blocks including five basic inter-related elements including two cubical elements having longitudinal grooves along opposite sides of the cube, two semicubical elements one having a longitudinal groove along one side thereof and the other having two longitudinal grooves along one side thereof, and a fifth member comprising an equilateral prism having a base of the same size as one side of a cubical member.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PTETEDHAY 91972 3,660,928

SHEET 1 [IF 2 LEGENDI Cl /3/( 1 INVENTOR JORGE PICAZO MICHEL ATTORNEY PATENTEDMM 9M2 Y 3,660,928

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR JORGE PICAZO MICHEL BY WM ATTORNEY MODULAR BUILDING BLOCKS WITH INTERFIT'I'ING GROOVED SURFACES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a set of building blocks for the construction of various structures out of a variety of simple structural components, the set comprising a toy construction kit which is useful for amusement and for educational purposes, in a great variety of arrangements challenging to the imagination of people of all ages.

The toy construction kit of the invention includes as essential components a plurality of elements based upon a cubical module, the five essential components comprising two components of cubical form having grooves therein as described hereinbelow. Two additional components each comprising a semicubical member are included as essential elements. The first semicubical member is provided with one groove therein as described hereinbelow, and the second is provided with two grooves. The fifth essential component comprises an equilateral prism having a base of a size equal to the size of one side of the modular component.

The combination of essential elements as briefly hereinabove described are capable in combination of forming an unlimited number of edifices or other constructions, the number of constructions being limited only by the imagination and ability of the user. The complexity of the constructions which can be made from these components ranges from a large variety of two element constructions to exceedingly complex constructions utilizing as many component parts as may be available.

The simple structural components of the invention can be readily formed from wood, molded from plastic material or even cast from light-weight metal. Preferably, however, the elements are formed of wood which can be very simply and effectively cut to size and the grooves therein then formed by routing. The elements can be made in any desirable color or left in a natural wood color.

Other details of my improved modular building blocks will be apparent from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a semicubical C-shaped structural component of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a cubical element having opposed grooves forming a double C-shaped element.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a semicubical E-shaped element of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a cubical double E-shaped component forming one of the basic elements of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the prismatic element of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of another cubical element useful in the invention.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of yet another cubical element useful in the invention.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an element similar to that shown in FIG. 6 but extended to a length double the normal modular cubical length of the structural components of the invention.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are isometric views showing additional construction aids useful in the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown one of the five basic elements necessary to form the construction kit of the invention. In FIG. 1, block 10 has an overall size exactlyone-half that of a cube, thus, its height and breadth are twice its width. In block 10, a groove 12 has been cut thereby forming a C- shaped member having a base 14 and arms 16, 18. Groove 12 has a width equal to three-fifths of the height of block 10 and a depth of one-third thereof. Since block 10 is exactly one-half of a cube, its depth is equal to one-half of its height and its width is equal to its height. The groove 12 is formed at the center of block 10 along one side thereof, and the groove has a uniform cross section throughout its length, i.e. from one end of the block to the other.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second of the essential blocks of the invention and constitutes a double C-shaped block similar in form to that which would be made if two of the blocks of FIG. 1 were placed base to base. The block 20 of FIG. 2 is cubical in shape, the cube having two grooves, 22, 22' cut therein, the grooves being parallel to each other on opposite sides of the block. Between the grooves is a central member, 24. A plurality of arms 26, 27, 28 and 29 extend beyond the central member 24. As in the unit depicted in FIG. 1, each groove 22, 22 of block 20 has a height equal to three-fifths of the total height (unit length) of cube 20 and the depth equals about one-third of said unit length.

Structural component 30 of FIG. 3 constitutes the third of the five essential components of the construction kit of the invention. Structural component 30 is an E-shaped semicubical member having plurality of channels 32, 33, cut in one surface thereof thereby forming a base member 34 and arms 36, 37, 38. Each of the grooves 32, 33 is substantially identical in size and shape to the other, and is of uniform rectangular crosssection throughout its length from end to end of the block. Thus the height of block 30 is divided into five substantially equal portions comprised of grooves 32, 33 and arms 36, 37, 38, each of these elements being substantially one-fifth of the total height. The depth of the groove 32, 33, as are the depths of all such grooves in all of the elements, is equal to approximately one-third of the unit size, a unit size being defined as the length, height or width of a cubical module of the invention. Thus, in the drawing of FIG. 3, d is equal to 5% I and w is equal to US 1.

Block 40 (FIG. 4) comprises a cubical member of double back-to-back E-shaped configuration in which longitudinal channels 42, 43, have been formed in one surface and in which the channels extend throughout the width of that surface of the block. Parallel grooves 42', 43 are formed in the opposite side of the cubical member. Between the opposite channels is central member 44 from which extend arms 46, 47, 48, 46, 47' and 48.

FIG. 5 depicts the last essential member 50 of the five member group of elements that are necessary in order to form a construction kit which makes it possible to construct a multitude of simple or complex structures all of which, when viewed from any direction have clear architectural significance. The buildings that can be constructed vary from complicated edifices to a simple two-piece garage that can be formed by placing an element five on a member 10. Prismatic element 50 is comprised of a base 52 of square shape, each side of said square being one unit in length. Rising from said base 52 are opposite ends 54 and converging sides 56, 58. Sides 56, 58 rise from base 52 towards each other at 45 angles (a) and meet each other at a right angle (b).

In addition to the essential structural members described above and shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, it is possible to add to the kit various optional auxiliary structural members which complement and add to the flexibility of use of the kit. FIG. 6 depicts one such member in which grooves have been formed in a cubical member of unit size in such a manner as to form 3 grooves on each side thereof with two arms positioned therebetvveen on each side. Cubical block 60 is substantially opposite in form to cubical block 40, that is, it has arms where block 40 has grooves and vice versa. Block 60 is therefore capable of complementing block 40 by interlocking therewith. Block 60 is formed with parallel grooves 61, 62, 63 on one side thereof and similarly channels 61, 62', and 63 are formed in the opposing surface. Each of grooves 62 and 62' is formed in the central fifth of its respective surface and the remaining grooves are formed along the .edges of those sur faces with the adjacent laterally extending surfaces. The grooves thereby form a central member 64 and arms 66, 68, 66 and 68' with the upper and lower ends of central portion 64 extending beyond the integral arms. While not shown in the drawings, it is evident that a semicubical block similar in form to one-half of block 60 could also be added to the kit of the invention. Such block would complement and interfit with a block such as block 30.

Other complementary cubical members to that shown in FIG. 6 are also desirable. For example, member 70 shown in FIG. 7 is a useful block in which the central grooves 62, 62' of block 60 have been omitted thereby leaving only grooves 71 and 73, 71' and 73. Grooves 71 and 73 are separated by protruberance 77, and grooves 71' and 73 are separated by protruberance 77 with central member 74 being positioned as before.

FIG. 8 illustrates one of many additional structured elements that can be formed by extending various blocks to double their length without changing their widths or depths. In this FIG. 8, structural element 80 corresponds to a double length element of the type shown in FIG. 6 as block 60. Modular element 80 is identical to cubical member 60 of FIG. 6 except in its length which is two units in length. Component 80 comprises central member 81, arms 86, 86', 88, 88 and grooves 81, 82, 83,81, 82, and 83.

In addition to the various inter-relatable elements shown in FIGS. 1 thru 8, it is possible to include in the construction kit of the various additional constructional aids such as those shown in FIGS. 9, l and 11. In FIG. 9, there is shown a simple rod 90 having a length equal to one unit, a width equal to onethird of the unit and a thickness equal to one-fifth of the unit. Similarly, in FIG. 10, there is shown a bar 92 having a length of one unit, a thickness of 170 unit and a depth of 2/3 unit.

FIG. 11 depicts a structural strengthening member 94 which simply comprises a U-shaped plastic or similar member for insertion between an arm and a groove in order to tighten the joint therebetween. This may be necessary in certain instances where the fit is loose. In addition, it will be obvious that other auxiliary items may be included in the kit without departing from the basic concept and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, additional elements may be added by varying the designs already disclosed. Illustrative of such variations is a cubical block fonned in the shape corresponding to the base-to-base combination of an element with an element 30. Another variation of considerable interest is a semicubical block of S-shape similar to the E-shaped element 30, but wherein one groove is positioned on the opposite surface of the block from the other instead of on the same surface.

What is claimed is:

l. A construction set comprising a plurality of interrelatable component parts adapted to be used together to form a variety of patterns whereby to provide a variety of toy structures, said set including a plurality of components based upon a cube of unit size, said interrelatable elements comprising a first cubical element having a pre-determined unit size, a central straight groove of substantially uniform, rectangular, crosssection extending from one surface of said cube to its opposite surface along one of the connecting surfaces therebetween, and a second similar groove extending along the opposite surface parallel to the first said groove; a second element comprising a semicubical member having a size equal to half said unit size, said semicubical member thereby initially having two large surfaces and four small side surfaces each small surface being one-half the size of a large surface, and a groove of substantially uniform, rectangular cross-section extending across one of said two larger surfaces from one side surface to the opposite side surface thereby to form a C-shaped element; a third element having an E-shaped configuration and formed from a semicubical block of half unit size and having two parallel grooves of substantially uniform, rectangular crosssection cut in a larger surface of said semicubical block thereby to form said E-shaped configuration; a fourth cubical element of unit size having two grooves of substantially uniform, rectangular, cross-section extending across one surface thereof and two similar grooves extending parallel to the first two grooves across the surface of said cubical member which is opposite to said first surface; and a fifth element of prismatic shape the base of said element having a size equal to one surface of a unit size cube whereby a plurality of said elements can be placed in interrelation with each other in order to form a variety of constructions, saidgrooved surfaces includmg arms defining said grooves, sar grooves and arms being dimensioned to interfit.

2. The construction set of claim 1 wherein each of the grooves fonned in all of the components thereof have a uniform depth equal to one-third of the distance from one side to an opposite side across the surface of a cubical element having a pre-determined unit size, and wherein the width of each said groove is one-fifth said distance or a multiple of onefifth thereof.

3. The construction set of claim 2 and further including additional components based upon said pre-determined unit size and having grooves of said depth and width, said grooves in said additional components being arranged to form blocks of other shapes.

4. A set of building blocks including a plurality of interrelated elements based upon a cube of unit size, structural elements of said unit size, of one-half said unit size, and multiples of said unit size, each of said elements having at least one groove of substantially unifonn, rectangular cross-section therein said grooves being of uniform depth said depth being equal to one-third the shortest distance across one surface of a cube of unit size from one side to an opposite side and each of said grooves having a width equal to one-fifth of said distance or multiples thereof, said grooved surfaces including arms defining said grooves, said grooves and arms being dimensioned to interfit.

5. The construction set of claim 4 wherein each of the cubical elements of said set are provided with parallel grooves along two opposed surfaces thereof. 

1. A construction set comprising a plurality of interrelatable component parts adapted to be used together to form a variety of patterns whereby to provide a variety of toy structures, said set including a plurality of components based upon a cube of unit size, said interrElatable elements comprising a first cubical element having a pre-determined unit size, a central straight groove of substantially uniform, rectangular, cross-section extending from one surface of said cube to its opposite surface along one of the connecting surfaces therebetween, and a second similar groove extending along the opposite surface parallel to the first said groove; a second element comprising a semicubical member having a size equal to half said unit size, said semicubical member thereby initially having two large surfaces and four small side surfaces each small surface being one-half the size of a large surface, and a groove of substantially uniform, rectangular cross-section extending across one of said two larger surfaces from one side surface to the opposite side surface thereby to form a C-shaped element; a third element having an E-shaped configuration and formed from a semicubical block of half unit size and having two parallel grooves of substantially uniform, rectangular cross-section cut in a larger surface of said semicubical block thereby to form said E-shaped configuration; a fourth cubical element of unit size having two grooves of substantially uniform, rectangular, cross-section extending across one surface thereof and two similar grooves extending parallel to the first two grooves across the surface of said cubical member which is opposite to said first surface; and a fifth element of prismatic shape the base of said element having a size equal to one surface of a unit size cube whereby a plurality of said elements can be placed in interrelation with each other in order to form a variety of constructions, said grooved surfaces including arms defining said grooves, said grooves and arms being dimensioned to interfit.
 2. The construction set of claim 1 wherein each of the grooves formed in all of the components thereof have a uniform depth equal to one-third of the distance from one side to an opposite side across the surface of a cubical element having a pre-determined unit size, and wherein the width of each said groove is one-fifth said distance or a multiple of one-fifth thereof.
 3. The construction set of claim 2 and further including additional components based upon said pre-determined unit size and having grooves of said depth and width, said grooves in said additional components being arranged to form blocks of other shapes.
 4. A set of building blocks including a plurality of interrelated elements based upon a cube of unit size, structural elements of said unit size, of one-half said unit size, and multiples of said unit size, each of said elements having at least one groove of substantially uniform, rectangular cross-section therein said grooves being of uniform depth said depth being equal to one-third the shortest distance across one surface of a cube of unit size from one side to an opposite side and each of said grooves having a width equal to one-fifth of said distance or multiples thereof, said grooved surfaces including arms defining said grooves, said grooves and arms being dimensioned to interfit.
 5. The construction set of claim 4 wherein each of the cubical elements of said set are provided with parallel grooves along two opposed surfaces thereof. 